Fierro asks for pardon

SANTA FE (KRQE) - With just two weeks before Governor Bill Richardson leaves office, former Santa Fe attorney Carlos Fierro has asked for a pardon from his vehicular homicide conviction and plea to hit and run.

Fierro was convicted in last 2009 and sentenced to seven years in prison for hitting and killing William Tenorio. With good time he could get out from the state prison in Los Lunas as early as November 27, 2012.

Fierro was out drinking with former State Police Sergeant Alfred Lovato, who served on the governor’s security detail. Fierro was driving down a dark street when he hit Tenorio, and came to a stop several blocks later because he claims he didn’t know he hit a person.

Fierro’s 10-page pardon application was turned in by attorney Ray Twohig.

Fierro claims drunk or sober he couldn't avoid hitting Tenorio because Tenorio was dressed in black and wandered drunk in front of his car.

The application says there are “six major reasons which argue in favor of a pardon,” actual innocence, attorney ineffectiveness, insufficient causation presentation, jury selection issues, mishandled jury instructions, and a forced plea agreement.

Fierro’s blood alcohol content was 0.21 but the application claims he demonstrated “relative sobriety.”

It also contends he was crucified by the local media.

Wednesday night the Tenorio family told News 13, “At this time of the year, when Governor Richardson is leading the campaign against drinking and driving; it’s rather bold that Fierro would even think of posing such a crass request to Governor Richardson. The Tenorio family has full confidence that Governor Richardson will honor the judgment rendered by the jury and the sentence handed down by the Judge.”

The governor’s office told News 13, “Our office received a commutation request for Mr. Fierro while Governor Richardson was in North Korea. He has not had the opportunity to review it. However, given the nature of the crime and the fact that time constraints would make a thorough vetting of the request difficult, it is unlikely that the Governor would be inclined to even consider it.”